OVC PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Nic Lively, So., P, Bristol, Va. (Eastern Kentucky)
Lively went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA last week, allowing just two hits in 6.2 innings of work. Lively picked up the victory in a 12-1 decision over IUPUI and came on in relief in the Colonels' 1-0 win over Austin Peay in 16 innings.

 AUSTIN PEAY: The Govs (13-8 overall, 0-3 in OVC) suffered a three-game sweep at conference foe Eastern Kentucky, dropping the three contests by a total of five runs. Austin Peay failed to score a run in 23 innings of action on Saturday, falling 1-0 in 16 innings and 3-0. Sophomore left-hander Mike Weel tossed a no-hitter through 7.2 innings in Game 1 and allowed just a Texas-League single over 11 innings, but got a no-decision. Weel is 4-0 this year with a league-low 1.53 ERA. The Govs also got a solid effort from pitcher Tony O'Donnell in the nightcap, allowing just three hits and one earned run over six innings. He struck out six and had no walks.

 EASTERN ILLINOIS: The Panthers (3-10 overall, 1-1 in OVC) split a doubleheader with Southeast Missouri on Saturday, winning the opener 2-1 and dropping the nightcap 16-7. Senior pitcher John Larson picked up the victory in Game 1, giving up just six hits and a run over 6.1 innings. Larson is now 11-0 in OVC games dating back to April 1998. Junior third baseman Chris Martin went 6-for-10 last week with a pair of homers, four runs and four RBI's. He hit a game-winning, two-run homer against Southeast. Outfielder Keith Laski went 3-for-4 in Game 2, while shortstop David Mikes was 2-for-4 with two RBI's.

 EASTERN KENTUCKY: The Colonels (8-10 overall, 3-0 in OVC) got off to a great start in OVC play, taking a three-game series from Austin Peay. EKU's pitching staff was outstanding on Saturday as the Colonels won 1-0 in 16 innings and 3-0. The Colonels extended their scoreless inning streak to 25.2 before APSU scored in the second frame on Sunday. Scott Santa, Mike Martini and Nic Lively combined on the shutout in the opener, while Corey Eagle tossed a complete game three-hitter in the nightcap. Sophomore shortstop Kiley Vaughn had a big week offensively, batting .522 (12-for-23) with a pair of doubles and seven runs scored. EKU has won six of its last eight.

 MIDDLE TENNESSEE: The Blue Raiders (10-9 overall, 2-0 in OVC) extended their winning streak to seven games after a doubleheader sweep of Tennessee-Martin (9-3, 7-1) on Saturday. The win streak is MTSU's longest since 1995. Senior outfielder Jeff Parsons hit .538 last week with three doubles, six runs scored and two RBI's. Shortstop Wes Whitehead extended his hitting streak to 12 games and has upped his batting average to a team-high .356. Sophomore pitcher Dewon Brazelton struck out 11 in the opener against UTM, while Kris Lammers became the team's first three-game winner (3-0) with a win in the nightcap. Senior Brad Howard earned a win and a save out of the bullpen last week, throwing 3.2 innings without giving up a hit. He struck out six during the span.

 MOREHEAD STATE: The Eagles (9-7 overall, 0-0 in OVC) split a doubleheader with Western Michigan on Saturday, losing the first game 8-3, but taking the second 6-5 in eight innings. Senior outfielder Jason Kennedy extended his hitting streak to 23 games, while shortstop Sam Hoehner went 5-for-8 in the twinbill with two runs scored and three RBI's. Hoehner had the game-winning hit in the finale. The Eagles have now had 14 different players hit a homer in their first 16 games. The Eagles' will send a young pitching staff to the hill this weekend at Tennessee Tech with sophomores Rick Lowe and Eddy Bushelman and freshman Matt Soale scheduled to start.

 MURRAY STATE: The Breds (5-14 overall, 0-2 in OVC) had their best week of the season, stunning Oklahoma 11-6 on Tuesday and then sweeping a doubleheader (4-3, 2-0) from conference foe Tennessee Tech on Saturday. Sophomore pitcher Aaron Russelburg three a complete-game five-hitter against Tech in the opener, and then Preston Hesley and Jason Glosser combined on a shutout in the nightcap. Hesley gave up just three hits over 5.1 innings and Glosser allowed no hits and struck out three over the final 1.2 innings. Freshman infielder Ronnie Seets batted .364 last week with a double and two RBI's.

 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI: The Indians (13-5 overall, 1-1 in OVC) split a doubleheader with Eastern Illinois over the weekend, rallying for a 16-7 victory in Game 2 after dropping the opener 2-1. The Indians pounded out 19 hits in the nightcap, led by senior outfielder Charlie Marino who went 4-for-5 with a grand slam and five RBI's. Third baseman Darin Kinsolving belted a pair of homers and drove in four runs, while outfielder Kevin Meyer had three hits and three RBI's. Junior pitcher Jeffrey Hilz didn't allow a hit in 3.2 innings of work last week. He's 3-1 on the year with a 2.22 ERA. Southeast already has 46 stolen bases this season, which is just 14 shy of last year's total. The Indians' school record for thefts is 84. 

TENNESSEE-MARTIN: The Skyhawks (4-18 overall) are in the midst of an eight-game losing skid, which included a pair of defeats to conference foe Middle Tennessee over the weekend. Senior outfielder Brian Baker continues to carry the club offensively, ranking first on the squad in six different categories. He's hitting .313 with eight doubles, six homers, 18 RBI's and nine stolen bases. Pitcher Heath Doyle (3-3, 1 save) has seen action in 13 of 22 games this year. UTM begins a five-game homestand this week, which includes a conference series with first-place Eastern Kentucky.

 TENNESSEE TECH: The Golden Eagles (9-9 overall, 0-2 in OVC) got off to a tough start in OVC play, losing 4-3 and 2-0 at Murray State on Saturday. Junior outfielder Matt Curtis had another big week for Tech, hitting .625 (10-for-15) with four doubles, two homers and seven RBI's. Also contributing offensively last week were second baseman Wes Dunn (.387) and designated hitter Ben Cunningham (.357, 2 homers). Pitcher Mike Fessler took a no-hitter into the 6th inning in a victory over Yale on Monday. Freshman Bubbie Buzachero tossed a complete-game three-hitter with nine strikeouts in a win over Jacksonville State. It was his first collegiate victory. In five games last week, the Golden Eagles' hurlers struck out 36 and walked just 15 in 36 innings.